Why do divers quit?

[Gombessa]

Since I assume most of us have not done so, this might not be the best group to ask. But even as I'm diving more, I do wonder what makes people stop? Boredom? Getting spooked? Family? A combination? I'm more interested in learning a bit about why regular divers (who dive at least once every other month or so) drop the habit, as opposed to those who dive once or twice a year on vacation.

So, what's the cause?

 

[DIVERHERB]

Personal opinion is family and time constraints. Some I have known seem to get locked into one particular type of diving and never vary and thus become bored. I think that to become a good diver you should vary your style of diving, i.e. drift diving, cave/cavern diving, photo, spearfishing, in short keep you interested and learning.

 

[tschmitt]

Not sure myself, but I can only guess:

new hobby (Golf :/ )
expense $$
new priorities (baby born)
relocate (central IL :/ )
new medical condition
bad dive experience (getting bent w/o DAN)

I hope nothing gets in the way of my love for diving...

 

[ucfdiver]

I think family and cost can have a lot to do with it. My mom doesn't like me diving, and she HATES the thought of cave diving....we were in Ginnie springs for around an hour, and she didn't like that one bit. You've got to remember that someone who hasn't gone through the training doesn't understand the difference between trained and untrained divers all that well....they understand it's safer, but until you go through the training there's just no way to understand it IMO. I bought my can light from a guy who's wife didn't want him cave diving now that they had kids. He had over 500+ cave dives, most involving scooters and stages, but both of them decided that it was still too much risk with young children.

Also cost. Even once you front the money, drysuit seals need to be replaced about once a year ($200), Nitrox fills (Usually $20-$30 for a set of doubles), gas to get to and from dive sites (usually runs me at least $50 a weekend), entry fees (can be as high as $40 at places like blue grotto), and it just keeps adding up.

 

[Thalassamania]

No idea. I keep trying, but I just can't seem to stop. Is there a patch or anything else that I could use to help?

Hi, my name's Thal and I dive.

Actually I've had to take a hiatus twice ... and those were both heath related.

 

[OldNSalty]

Money? I have all my on stuff but I still need to pay for vis/hydro, tank fills, equipment up keep and boat rides. All that cost. ON top of that, I have to leave a wife and 2 kids on the shore and that cost (just in a different way)

Health?

I think just in general most people don't have hobbies. Everyone starts one at some point but most people don't keep at it very long. (Which in diving might not be bad-it keeps a supply of slightly used gear coming in and I always hate being buddied up with that guy that hasn't quit but the last time he got wet was on his certification dive and has never been in the ocean...well don't hate it, cause it least he is trying but some days I would rather not)

 

[Walter]

There are lots of different reasons.

Life can get in the way. When my children were young, I had very little time for anything other than family issues. From 1992 through 1997, I only made 35 dives. That would be a heavy month for me before or after. Life gets in the way of life.

Some folks just don't like diving all that much. It was on their list of things to do, they checked it off.

I suspect one of the biggest reasons people quit is the low quality of their training. They never really felt comfortable and confident in their abilities.

 

[trogloxene]

The lack of dive buddies is frustrating


Sean

 

[tuner fish]

My guess is people quit because they lack a real engagement to the diving experience. I bet most of us here have a real love of some element of diving...and it stays fresh.

I can't get enough of a visit to a wild reef. I still get off on just being weightless. Could I tire of either of these? I hope not.

 

[Veronica]

I agree with all of these reasons, however i also believe that so many people just want to try new things to be able to say..that they have tried it.. I thought I fell in love with sky diving and after the 4th or 5th jump I was bored... I was thinking about scuba diving instead..But now I can say hey I did try it. and it was cool. I love to Dive and try new things. I have always loved the water to much to give it up..and now I am also riding a Harley now and it to feels great.